HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PC 039 2019/12/17 2018-2020 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
DATE: December 17, 2019 Re: Comm.No. 651
PLACE: Council Chambers
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
TIME: 1:05 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Planning,to which was referred Communication No. 651, reports as
follows:
Communication No. 651, dated November 29, 2019, and transmitted by Mayor Harry Kim,
nominates Natalie Kurashima, Ph.D., of Kealakekua to the Hawaii County Cultural Resources
Commission(CRC). If confirmed, she would serve a term to end December 31, 2021, but would
be eligible for reappointment to a full five-year term.
Dr. Kurashima is employed by Kamehameha Schools as an Integrated Resource Manager in the
Natural and Cultural Resources Department. Born and raised in Hawaii, she earned a Bachelor
of Science degree in Conservation and Resources Studies at the University of California at
Berkeley, and earned her Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Botany at the University of
Hawaii at Mdnoa. She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Speaking by telephone, Dr. Kurashima said she was thankful to be nominated for the position.
Her experience for almost the last decade working and volunteering in cultural resource
management and natural resource management has prepared her for this position, and she
appreciated the consideration.
Council Member Tim Richards asked her about her work at The Kohala Center under the Mellon
Fellowships Program. While earning her Ph.D., Dr. Kurashima described her work funded by
Carnegie Mellon Foundation that focused on indigenous agriculture in Hawaii.
Council Member Rebecca Villegas spoke in support of the nomination. She was excited to see
someone of her caliber, experience, and education serving on the commission. She was
especially passionate about her studies and work in restoring ancient agriculture and indigenous
agriculture, which is important to the long-term term resilience and sustainability of our
community, in a way that did not require the require use of herbicides as a necessary tool for
propagation.
Council Member Matt Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder said the Cultural Resources Commission has a very
important part to play within our county, and he hoped to see how Dr. Kurashima could focus
her abilities on the commission.
PC Report No.: 39
PC-39 Page 2 December 17,2019
Council Member Karen Eoff thanked Dr. Kurashima for serving on the commission. She said her
background and her ability to think through issues will be important going forward.
Council Member Maile David, who acted as Committee Chair, also thanked Dr. Kurashima. She
said she looked forward to meeting and working with her.
Dr. Kurashima was informed that she was not required to appear at the next Council meeting.
Your Committee on Planning is in accord with the purpose and intent of Communication
No. 651, and recommends confirmation of the appointment of Natalie Kurashima, Ph.D., to the
Hawaii County Cultural Resources Commission.
Ps
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG x
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON PLANNING
EOFF x
KIERKIEWICZ x
KANEALI'l-KLEINFELDER x
LEE LOY x
POINDEXTER x ASHLEY L. KIERKIEWICZ, CHAIR
RICHARDS x PC REPORT NO.: —0- 39
VILLEGAS x ADOPTED: JAN 8 2020